Latch.



No. 7|2,899. L Patentednov. 4', |902. W. S. BARTHDLDMEW.

LATCH. (Application l'ea Apr. 16, 1902.) (no model.)

As PETERS co.. vucrauwo., WASHINGTON. nA g ma Noam UNITED STATES AtrnNr Friuli.g

WILLIAM S. BARTI'IOLOMEW, OF WYNCOTE, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOR TO THE ADAMS (it WESTLAKE COMPANY, OF'ILLINOIS.

srnclrrcn'rronformmg perfor Letters Patent No. 712,89

9, aerea November@ 1902.

Applicant ned Apfiiie, 1902, strain. malos. (Nomaden T0 @ZZ whom/,it ntctyconcerm,

Be it known that I`,-^WIL'L1'A M` Srnnrnollo- MEW, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Wyncote, in the county'of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Latches for Door-Locks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof.

My invention relates to a latch designed to be applied to that class of locks in which the latch proper for retaining the door in closed position is pivoted to a sliding latch-bolt operated by means of a knob or handle.

The main object of .my improvement is to `produce a simple, cheap,-and efcient lock having a swingingor pivoted latch looselyconnected to the sliding latch-plate and which may be quickly and readily reversed, thus changing the pivotal point of the latch fromone side of the lock to the other, whereby the lock may be adapted to doors opening either to the right or left.

So far as I am advised a reversible swinging door-latch has not been heretofore'used, and while swinging-latches are known in the art, as are also solid reversible latches, in nok lock or latch heretofore known to me are com-v bined the advantages of simplicity, positiveness of action,;e`asy Yreversibility,.and'n Wide application believed to belong to my im provement.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 repre-A sents in elevation an outside or rim lock embodying my invention, a portion of the side plate being broken away to expose the swinging latch and its operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through .a mortiselock, showing,rv a modified Vconstruction of parts for operating the swinging latch. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views .on theline 3 3 of Fig. 1,'the swinging latch beingishown in opposite orQreversedpositions. Fig.,5 is a perspective View of the'swingingvlatch. Fig. 6 is a similar View of the sliding latch-plate. Fig. 7 is a View of a portion of the casing.

Similar reference-letters indicate similar parts in the respective figures.

C is thesliding'latcbplate, which ismade in one piece, broadened at its inner end and .longitudinally slotted, as at c. From the face of the sliding latch-plate, on each side of the slot c, projects a lug c', normally held by means of a spring D in contact with the ngers e of a hub or stump IE, adapted to be rotated by the spindle F to retract the sliding latch-plate C in the ordinary way.

The front edge of the casing A is formed with an opening G, Fig. 7, through which projects a swinging latch H, turning on a pivotpin I, passingthrough a bore h in the latch and also through holes a2 or a3 in the casing. 65 The swinging latch H is centrallyrcut away at its inner-porrtionthere being Yleft;projections h h', between which extendsa'pin'h2 to engage a slot czin the. enlarged'outerend of the sliding latch-plate C.y The inward move- 7o ment of the plate C is limited by means of a stop 04,'adapted to strike the casingA.

The spring'D is preferably coiled around a stud J, one end of said spring resting against a fixed part of the casing and the other end upon a notched lugcs, projecting outwardly from Athe sliding latch-plate C.

When the latch is to be applied to a door that opens toward the operator and swings to the right, the mechanism is "arranged as in 8o Figsfl and 3, the swinging latchH being pivoted to the casing by thelieaded pin I, passing through the openings a2. (see Fig. 7) in the front end of the casing Ar., To admit of the reversal of the swinging latch H, the side platejB of the lock is removed and the pin I withdrawn. Byslipping the pink?, which is secured to the swinging latch II, into the notch c2A ofV the, sliding latch-plate C, seating the pivot-pin I in the openings a3, thus nec- 9o essarily passing it through the swinging latch and replacing the ,coverfplate'l theflock or latch is ready for use on a door opening'to the left, as seen in Fig. 4. Y b

When employedin connection witha mortise-lock, my invention is modiiied, as`indicated in Fig. 2, the principal change being confined to the sliding latch-plate C. In this modified form of latch-plate the front and rear faces are similar, there being a lug c3 on Ioo each face. The slot c2 in the enlarged outer end of the sliding latch-plate C' is closed at each end, the swinging latch being thus retained in connection with said plate. By this arrangement when the swinging latch is reversed the sliding latch-plate is also turned over; but, as heretofore mentioned, both sides or faces of the latch-plate C' being alike this inversion is permissible.

I do not restrict myself to the exact details of construction, combination, and arrangement herein set forth, it being obvious that minor variations thereof not involving the exercise of invention may be made by the skilled mechanic, and such departures from What is herein described and claimed not involving invention I consider as Within the scope and terms of my claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- In combination with a lock or latch casing having a hollow enlargement and also concentrically-paired pivot-holes @230,3 Within the side Walls thereof, a removable pivot -pin adapted to seat in either pair of said concentric holes, a latch, having a ixed pin, and adapted to be reversed and to swing in the enlargement of the casing When held by said pivot-pin seatedin either pair of said concentric holes, a sliding one-piece latch-plate having a transverse slot through which the xed pin of the latch passes and in which it is permitted to play, a spring for projecting the latch-plate, and a hub or stump in engagement with the opposite end of said latch-plate for retracting the latch-plate when the hub is turned, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

WILLIAM S. BARTHOLOMEW. [L s] Vitnesses:

B. L. COMPTON, E. I-I. STEARNS. 

